Tubing catcher



Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED] STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD C. CBAGO, OF NANSAS CITY, RI, ASBIGNOB'TO TEE ELLIS .IANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, A CORPORATION 01 KANSAS.

TUBING CATCHEB.

Application m October 21, 1921. Serial No. items.

My invention relates to tubing catchers and has for its principalobject to provide a device of that character for use in connection with deep oil wells for automatmally attaching the tubing to the well casing to prevent ss of the tubing in case of breakage of the tubing or escape of the tubing from its support at the top of the well.

In accomplishing'this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying-drawings, wherein: ii -lg. 1 1s a perspective view of a tubing catcher embodying my improvements, illustrating its application to well tubing and its relation towell casing, the well casing bein' shown in central, longitudinal section. %ig.' 2 is a similar view, the shell of the tubing catcher being in central, longitudinal section to better illustrate the interior element$ r i 3 is a detail pcrs ective view of the several elements of the evice, in spaced relation.

Fig. 4 is a centrallongitudinal section of the device and well casing within which it is employed, illustrating the parts in non-functional position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the parts in functional position. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 66, Fig. 5.

l ig. Fig. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates well casing and 2 tubing within the casing. Attached to the tubing 2 at a point in its length at which the catcher -is to be located is a collar 3 which may be rigidly but adjustably fixed-to the tubing by asetscrew l. 5 designates a carriage including a base 6 having a downwardly and inwar ly tapering outer-face 7 and terminating in a head 8 siidable on" the; tubing 2 and adapted for support on the collar 3. Threaded onto the bwe 6 is-a shell 9 of substantially greater diameter than the tubing and provlded with series of radial openings 10, preferably rectangular and having downwardly and inwardly beveled lower edges 11. Threadonto the top of the shell 9 is a hood 12 having a restricted upper end terminat ng in neck'l3 slidable onthe tubing 2. Seat-- in the radiai openings of the shell 9 expanded by a cooperatin 'tubin and the bottom of t e slips being up- 7 is a cross section on the line 7-'-7,'

are slips 14, having transversely serrated outer faces forming downwardly projected "teeth 15' for gripping engagement with the inner face of the well casing when the slips are extended; the inner faces of the slips being downwardly and inwardly tapered to prov de cam faces whereby the slips may be element on the ward y and outwardly tapered cooperating with the beveled lower edges of the openings 10 for return of the slips into the carriage when the slips are unrestrained. Attached to the side walls ofthe slips near their inner' edges and preferably above their longitudinal centers-are pins .16 for engagement with the shell 9 to limit outward projection of the slips and prevent their escape from the carriage. v

- Fixed to the tubing 2 within the carriage 6' and above the slips 14 is an invertedconv ical block 17 adapted for engagement with the slips when the tubing moves downwardly. through the carriage to expand the slips and eflect their gripping engagement with the welltubing.

Differential in inertia of the tubing and carriage will efi'ect separation of these elements in case of accelerated movement of the-tubing downwardl in the well following a break in the tubmg'or its escape from its support at the top of the well, but to insure operation of the catcher 'upon such differentlal movement of the tubing. and carriage, I provide a secondary support for the carriage that becomes effective for restrain ing the carriage against dowhward thrust from the expander on the tubing to the slips on the carriage, and preferabl consisting of a sleeve 18 attached to the tu ing below the collar 3 by set screws or the like 19 and flat spring arms 20 attached to the sleeve 18 by belts or the like and extending upwardly along the tubing in spaced relation and in wiping contact with the tapered face 7 of the base ,6. the spring arms being sufliciently.

flexible to spread and receive the tapered ice applied to the tubing by stringing the sleeve 18 and collar 3 on the tubing and attaching lllll the same thereto in spaced relation by their set screws. The carriage with the slips assembled therein, but without the hood 12, is

then strung on the tubing until the base 6 1 let into the well and in case of breakage of the tubing or its escape from its support at the top of the well, diiierential in inertia between the tubing and carriage will result in a movement of the tubing downwardly through the carriage, causing the expander 17 to engage the slips and force the slips outwardly into gripping contact with the well casing.

While difierential in inertia of the tubing and carriage is suiheient to bring the expander into contact with the slips, it is necessary to restrain the carriage against thrust of the expander and insure spread of the slips to their gripping contact. Such restraint is provided by the secondary supportincluding the spring fingers 20, which follow along the tapered face of the base 6, as the collar 18 is carried downwardly with the more rapidly movin tubing, so that the carriage is retarded by the spring arms during such spreading movement of the parts.

dhould the tubing catcher be operated upon breakage of the tubing or escape of the tubing from its upper support, the lower portion of the tubing will be suspended in the well and will not fall to the bottom and damage the well, and the part of the tubing above the catcher may be engaged by suitable fishing tools and removed from the well,

the slips contracting when disengaged from the expander to release their grip on the casing.

While I have referred to and illustrated but one of the devices in combination with the tubing, it is apparent that a number of them may be employed at different points throughout the length of the tubing.

What I claim'and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with well tubing, a carriage mounted for independent movementon the tubing, slips on the carriage, means on the tubing for expanding the slips, means on the tubing for supporting the carriage in non-functional position, and other means on the tubing for supporting the carriage duringdiflierential travel of the tubing and carriage.

2, In combination with well tubing, a carriage mounted for independent movement on the tubing, slips on the carriage,means on the tubing for expanding the slips, means on the tubing for positively supporting the carriage in non-functional position, and yield: ing means on the tubing for supporting the carriage during difi'erential travel of the tubing and carriage.

3. ln combination with well tubing, a carriage movable longitudinally on the tubing, slips mounted for radial expansion on the carriage, means on the tubing for expanding the slips, means normally supporting the carriage in non-functional position, and means t'rictionally engaging the carriage to progressively support the carriage during difi'erential travelot the tubing and carriage:

1. In combination with well tubing, a carriage slidable on the tubing, an expansible set of slips mounted 0n the carria e, an expander on the tubing, means on t 1e tubing normally supporting the carriage with the slips spaced from theexpander, and flexible means carried by the tubing and progressively restraining the carriage upon movement of the tubing through the carriage to promote actuation of the slips by the expander.

5. In combination with well tubing, a carriage slidable on the tubing, slips on the earriage, an expander on the tubing, means on the tubing normally supporting the carria e in n0n-ifunctional position relative to the expander, and flexible arms mounted on the tubing and engaging the carriage to restrain the carriage during difierential movement of the tubing and carriage in a direction to contact the expander with said slips.

6. In combination with well tubing, a carriage slidable onthe tubing having a conieal lower end, slips on the carria e, an expander on the tubing, means on t e tubing normally positively supporting the carriage in non-functional position relative to the expander, and a cage mounted on the tubing including flexible arms having wiping engagement with the conical end of the carriage for progressively restraining the carriage upon movement of the tubing through the carriage.

7; In combination with well tubing, a carriage loose on the tubing and havin a tapered lower end, slips on the carriage aving tapered inner faces, a tapered expander on the tubing, a collar adjustable on the tubing for normally supporting the carriage in nonfunctional position relative to the expander, a sleeve adjustable on the tubing, below said collar, and flexible arms on the sleeve, engaging the tapered end of the carriage to progressively restrain the earria e during movement of the tubing throng the carriage. 1

8. In combination with'well tubing, a carriage in sliding relation to the tubing including a shell having radial openings, slips assembled in the carriage for radial projection through said openings, at]. expander on eluding a shell the tubing, means on the tubing normally supporting the carriage in non-functional position, and flexible means carried by-the tubing for restrainin the carriage upon movement of the tubing through the carriage. a j p 9. In combination with well tubing, 9. carriage in slidingl aving radial openings, slips assembled in the carriage for radial projection through said openings, means on the slips engageable withthe carriage for' retaining the slips, an expander on the tubing, means on the tubin normally supporting the carriage in nonunctional position, and

flexible means carried by the tubing for re-.

relation to the tubing instraining. the carriage upon movement of the tubing through t e carriage.

10. "In combination with well tubing, .a carriage slidable on said tubing includinga shell having radial openings, slips mounted in said openings, the lower edges of the openings and slips beingbeveled to induce contraction of the slips, an expander on the tub-.

ing, means on the tubing normally supporting the carriage in non-functional position, and flexible means on thehtubing progres sively restraining the carriage upon movement of the tubing through the carriage,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDWARD C. CRAGO. 

